Casino card game

ABSTRACT

A method of gambling on a card game, said game being played with one or more conventional 52 card decks, comprising the steps of: players placing wagers on the next drawn card meeting a predetermined card outcome condition; a dealer drawing one card from a shuffled deck or decks; and the dealer paying said wagers, on the basis of the card having a face value that meets said predetermined outcome condition.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a card-based game for casino andon-line gambling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Casino games generally include both electronic gaming machines,and table based games. The latter include game such as Black Jack,Roulette, Craps and Baccarat. Many of these games have evolved elaborateconventions, which whilst well understood by experienced players, areintimidating to new table game players. Further, these games have rules,which may be simple once understood, but take some time to learn. Formany players there is a fear that they will make a mistake and eitherappear foolish to the other players and staff, or lose their moneyunnecessarily. As a result, many players only play electronic gamingmachines, as they can make a mistake without embarrassment.

[0003] Casino operators in some cases have a larger entitlement togaming tables than they can utilise economically. In parallel, thenumbers of gaming machines are capped. It is accordingly economicallyattractive to attract machine players to table games, in order tomaximise the turnover of the casino.

[0004] Further, the profitability of a given table is determined by thecosts incurred on the table, relative to the turnover and margins thatare available. For example, in games such as blackjack and roulette, arelatively high level of supervision is required. This is because thedealer's responsibilities include calculation of wins and losses andpayouts, while continually ensuring proper play. Additionally, thedealer can only service a limited number of players.

[0005] Also, as the card shoe is typically emptied relatively often dueto the number of cards in play in each hand (often 20 or more cards perdeal for 7 players and the dealer), substantial time is taken up inshuffling and preparing for a new card shoe to be used.

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple,easily understood table game, which allows for relatively rapid play.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] According to one aspect, the present invention provides a methodof operating a casino card game, said game being played with one or moreconventional 52 card decks, and a suitably marked playing surface,comprising the steps of:

[0008] Players placing wagers on the next drawn card meeting apredetermined card face value outcome condition;

[0009] drawing one card from a shuffled deck or decks; and

[0010] paying said wagers, on the basis of the card having a face valuethat meets said predetermined outcome condition.

[0011] Preferably, the predetermined card outcome condition is that theface value of the card is either:

[0012] equal to a set value;

[0013] higher than a set value; or

[0014] lower than a set value.

[0015] Preferably, the set value is seven.

[0016] Alternatively, the wager may be on the suit of the next drawncard.

[0017] Alternatively, the wager may be on the value of each of a seriesof next drawn cards. For example, the player may bet on a run of cardslower than seven, or a run of cards higher than seven.

[0018] Alternatively, the wager may be that the series of next drawncards conforms to a set sequence. For example, the player may bet thatthe next five cards conform to well-known poker sequences, such as aFlush, Full House, Four-of-a-Kind, Five-of-a-Kind (for multiple packdealing), Straight Flush or Royal Flush.

[0019] Other betting options may relate to the outcome of more than onespecific game. The system may be fully manually dealt, partly electronicor fully electronic, for example in a gaming machine. The game may beplayed in person or via the internet or other remote interactionmechanisms.

[0020] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided acard game, wherein the object of the game is to predict whether the nextdrawn card will meet a predetermined outcome condition; and wherein thepredetermined outcome condition is that the face value of the card is:

[0021] equal to a set value;

[0022] higher than a set value;

[0023] lower than a set value; or

[0024] of a particular suit.

[0025] As per the methods described above, the game may additionallyinvolve other predictions, such as runs of high and low face values,runs of cards forming familiar poker hands, runs of suits etc.

[0026] Preferably, the game is presented in the manner of traditionalcasino table-games, wherein a marked playing table is provided that hasspaces marked for the placing of cards and bets, usually in the form ofchips. A dealer is also provided, who deals actual playing cards,supervises play and collects and pays the wagers.

[0027] The present invention accordingly provides a very simple game.The dealer does not need to add the value of cards or perform complexcalculations. In a preferred form, high and low are paid at even money,and a successful wager on the set value card is paid at higher returns,e.g. the seven is paid at 11:1. In another preferred form, successfulhigh or low bets, where the card drawn has a particularly high or lowvalue, may be paid at higher returns, e.g. Ace (low) and King (high)paid at 3:2; two (low) and Queen (high) paid at 6:5.

[0028] As only one card is drawn, which is not touched by the players,the opportunities for cheating are small. A further advantage is thatplay is very fast—once bets are placed, the card is dealt, and wins andlosses are immediately apparent. Further, as no choices are being made,the opportunities for card counting and the like are very small.

[0029] A further advantage is that as the rules are simple, it is likelyto attract those who may be intimidated by existing table games. Noelaborate strategies or systems need to be learned by players to enjoythe game.

[0030] The present invention is also readily able to be implementedusing electronic systems, Particularly in this form, it would bepossible to have jackpot bets on specified outcomes across multipledraws, for example on multiples of the same card being drawn insucceeding games, runs of low or high values, runs of suits etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031]FIG. 1 shows the layout of an individual player betting box.

[0032]FIG. 2 illustrates a possible gaming table layout.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0033] The rules of the illustrative game are simple. The object is forthe player to place a successful wager on the outcome of a single carddraw. The wagers are placed, preferably within betting boxes defined infront of each player. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the bet may be placed inthe betting box 1 on the symbol relating to the wager. A bet that thecard drawn will be higher than seven will be placed on the ‘high’ box 2.A bet that the card drawn will be higher than seven will be placed onthe ‘low’ box 3. A bet that the card drawn will be a seven will beplaced on the ‘seven’ box 4. Bets that the card will be of a particularsuit will be placed on the ‘hearts’ box 5, the ‘clubs’ box 6, the‘diamonds’ box 7 and/or the ‘spades’ box 8.

[0034] The dealer draws one card from a shoe. It is preferred that asingle deck be used, which is shuffled after a maximum of five cards aredealt. Alternatively, the shoe could be a multiple deck continuousshuffling type. If the card drawn is low, then low bets are paid at evenmoney. If a high card is drawn, then high bets are paid at even money.However, if the card is an ace or king, then the respective low and highbets are paid at 3:2. Low and high bets all lose if a seven is drawn.This provides a percentage win to the house of about 3.8%. If the cardis a queen or a two, then the respective high or high bets are paid at6:5. This provides a percentage win to the house of about 2.3%.

[0035] If a seven if drawn, this bet pays at either 10:1 or 11:1,depending on the win percentage desired by the house. At 11:1, the houseadvantage is about 7.7%.

[0036] The shoe could be of regular type, as is used for other casinogames. In this case, the cards should be cut, at between one half andseven eighths. Alternatively, the shoe could be of the continuousshuffling type.

[0037] As for other games, the house would preferably set minimum andmaximum bets. As well or alternatively, the house could apply a limit tothe maximum table risk per hand—that is, the difference between low andhigh bets—in a similar manner to that used in some casinos forbanker/player bets on baccarat.

[0038] Other betting options can be provided. One example is suitbetting. The player bets that the next suit drawn will be the one he hasselected. All wagers are paid at 3:1, unless a seven of the nominatedsuit is drawn, which results in a reduced payout of 3:2. This provides apercentage win to the house of abour 2.88%. All wagers otherwise lose ifa seven is dealt. Optionally, Aces and Kings may be paid at 7:2.

[0039] Another example is field betting. This may be, for example, a setof 6 numbers other than the high/low numbers—e.g. ace, 2, 3, jack,queen, king, with an even money payout. Various such combinations, withdifferent payouts, could be provided.

[0040]FIG. 2 shows a table layout, with positions for 7 players 1 and adealer 9. Each player has a betting box 1 in front of them, with placesto lay bets on high cards, low cards, sevens and individual suits. A‘run’ bet area 10 is provided for placing bets on runs of up to sevenhigh or low cards.

[0041] Bets could also be made on a jackpot basis, on the outcomes ofmore than one game. This requires record keeping, for example placementof the previous five cards on the playing area in the jackpot area 11.The multiple bets could be, for example, that 3 cards of the same value(e.g. aces) are dealt in the specified games, in succession or withinsome designated number of games. It could require that the cards insuccessive games have a particular relationship—for example, that theyform a poker or blackjack hand of better than some specified value. Thesimplicity of each hand lends itself to further elaborations formulti-game play as required.

[0042] It will be appreciated that the present invention is capable ofimplementation in many forms within the general inventive conceptdisclosed.

[0043] Variations and additions are possible within the spirit and scopeof the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

RULES

[0044] 1. Only one player is permitted to wager on each betting area.

[0045] 2. A player shall not wager on more than one betting box on anyround.

[0046] 3. The dealer shall call ‘no more bets’ prior to handling thehand held shoe.

[0047] 4. A card found ‘face up’ (boxed) shell be burnt, and wagers forthat round shall be deemed void.

[0048] 5. If it is discovered that the deck in use does not contain 52regular playing cards, the round of play shall be deemed void.

[0049] 6. If the dealer draws a fourth or fifth card when not required(under the rules of RUN wager and JACKPOT bet) all bets on HIGH/LOW,SUIT, and SEVEN are considered ‘live’ and paid or taken accordingly.

[0050] a) Any monies wagered on the JACKPOT or RUN areas after the thirdor fourth card but prior to the additional overdrawn card/s are to bereturned.

[0051] b) The JACKPOT and RUN wagers will not reopen until a shuffletakes place.

[0052] 7. If more than one card is drawn from the shoe simultaneously atthe point of the initial deal (the first card after a shuffle) the deckis to be reshuffled.

[0053] a) Players may change or rearrange their wagers.

[0054] b) JACKPOT wagers are to be returned (if desired by player/s).

[0055] 8. If more than one card is drawn from the shoe simultaneouslyduring the subsequent deal (any time after the first card has moved tothe ‘jackpot holding area’) and it cannot be determined which is thenext card, then all remaining cards are reshuffled and the handcontinues.

[0056] 9. If the first four cards drawn are 7's (one deck only)

[0057] a) A fifth card would not be drawn.

[0058] b) JACKPOT four of a kind would be paid.

1. A method of operating a casino card game, said game being played withone or more decks of cards, a dealer and players, including the stepsof: a) providing a playing surface, said surface including first markedareas for placing wagers on one or more aspects of the face value of asingle card, and second marked areas for placing wagers on one or moreaspects of the face values of a plurality of successively dealt singlecards; b) permitting the players to place wagers in said first andsecond marked areas; c) the dealer dealing a single card; d) the dealercollecting and paying the wagers placed in the first marked areaaccording to the face value of said single card; e) permitting theplayers to place new wagers in said first marked areas; and f) repeatingsteps c) to e) the dealer collecting and paying the wagers placed in thesecond marked areas according to the face values of the successivelydealt single cards in step c).
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein saidone or more aspects of the face value of a single card include: a valueequal to a set value; a value higher than a set value; a value lowerthan a set value; or a card of a particular suit.
 3. The method of claim2, wherein the set value is seven.
 4. The method of any one of thepreceding claims, where said one or more aspects of the face values of aplurality of successively dealt cards include one or more of thefollowing poker hands formed from five successively dealt cards: aflush; a full house; four of a kind; five of a kind a straight flush;and a royal flush.
 5. The method of any one of the preceding claims,wherein the game is wholly or partly presented in electronic form.